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"We know what type of effective running team we can be," McNabb said during his weekly appearance on ESPN 980 Tuesday afternoon. "It shows out on the film."

There's no exact timetable on when the ground game will arrive, but the stage might be set for this Sunday. Through two games, the St. Louis Rams are giving up an average of 142.5 yards per game. Only the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts have fielded worse rush defenses thus far.

(The Redskins' rushing game is ranked dead last, averaging 53.5 yards per outing, more than 10 yards fewer than any other team.)

"It's over time," McNabb said the team's running game. "We're going to continue to progress as a unit. ... When it does, everybody will begin to see what we're seeing here in practice."

Certainly some of the criticism and concern sound similar to what was expressed about the team's passing game following the season-opener. McNabb responded with 426 yards against the Texans last week.

"The first game to the second, there were a lot of things that changed," McNabb said Tuesday, "from the communication aspect, the chemistry aspect, being able to recognize certain things and getting into a rhythm."

McNabb realizes that after this weekend's game at St. Louis, his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, are next on the Redskins' schedule. There certainly will be plenty of interest in that game next week, but McNabb says he's not looking past the Rams.

"I don't get caught up in it," he said. "I focus so much on the task at hand...For that next week, that will come about obviously. I'm just looking forward to this week."

Hopefully the 'Skins and McNabb don't look past the Rams to that Eagle game. Of course McNabb wants to prove them wrong, but the Rams game counts for just as much in the standings and the fight for a playoff spot.

I think the NFL coming down on CP was straight garbage last week. He said nothing wrong. Still I don't get why some get all worked up anytime Reid posts about him. Who cares? Clinton said this stuff on the radio. It's no secret.

If the Skins had held on against Houston, I think they'd be in more danger of looking past the Rams. Coming off a loss, no matter how impressive the offense was, they have no excuse to overlook St. Louis.

Hopefully the 'Skins and McNabb don't look past the Rams to that Eagle game. Of course McNabb wants to prove them wrong, but the Rams game counts for just as much in the standings and the fight for a playoff spot.

Posted by: saltine182 | September 21, 2010 1:07 PM |

Agreed. Further, how CAN we look past the Rams anyway? Wasn't the final a 9-6 or something in last years match-up? The Rams have a new identity and Sam Bradford is passing everyone's eyeball-tests. Stephen Jackson is still a beast. I am confident the "Fighting Shannys" will have the 'Skins preparing for this game like it's a must-win, because, for all intents and purposes, it is. This is a game that you HAVE to win in order for anyone to take you seriously. Honestly, I am more worried about the Rams than I was with the Cowfaigs.

Lock it up:

Skins - 37
Rams - 17

Jim Hazlenutt will take Fat Albert's helmet away BEFORE the opening kickoff.

I think the NFL coming down on CP was straight garbage last week. He said nothing wrong. Still I don't get why some get all worked up anytime Reid posts about him. Who cares? Clinton said this stuff on the radio. It's no secret.

Posted by: mack1 | September 21, 2010 1:12 PM

I thought he did say something wrong. He reinforced the impression that the NFL is creating a work environment that is hostile to female reporters. If it is, it is illegal and NFL is in hot water. That is why the Redskins and the League came down as quickly and as strongly as they did.

(Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and I shouldn't have an opinion on this. Only learnedhand's pronouncements are legitimate on all things legal on RI.)

Outside of that, torture the S.O.B. for as long as we can and make him a pariah, forever damaging what little remaining consensus that AH is as dominant a D-linemen as there is in football.

Posted by: No_Punt_Intended | September 21, 2010 12:54 PM

If this is your plan, then the Skins are doomed. Again, as I've said before, our defense is worthless without Haynesworth, I'm not the only one with this opinion, McNabb have said it, Anthony Bryant said it after the loss. At the least, Haynsworth commands being game planed for. If you were at the stadium, you will notice the sweat on Shanahan's face in the final moment of the fourth quarter and overtime, well that indicates nervousness, and without Haynesworth expect more of the same throughout the year, but I hope not, I can only hope coach Haslett will be bold enough to let Shanahan know that the defense needs Haynesworth.

Listen up. I advise you and will not send you an invoice. I repeat, you will not be invoiced. Trade Albert Haynesworth for a 7th round pick in the year 2020. A 7th round pick in 2020 is of more value than what you're getting out of AH now.

One of the first things Allen/Shanny did when they got here was cut about 12 players who made up the "core" group of Redskins that won one playoff game, all of whom were in their late 20s or early 30s. You can't get younger overnight, but if you look at our starters, we have a lot more young players contributing than years past. Also, we have an "older" QB than before by several years, but the quality of that upgrade is immense.

Average age of a team is a terrible statistic to judge anything on. Our best players, with the exception of McNabb, Moss, Cooley, and Fletcher, are under 27.

The funny thing is Pabrainiac talks 'we' and 'us' like is really is a Redskins fan, but he has absolutely NOTHING nice to say about them. You might call it 'drinking the koolaid', but I call it supporting your team, so shut the f*ck up and support your team, we are sick of hearing your b*tching!

I thought he did say something wrong. He reinforced the impression that the NFL is creating a work environment that is hostile to female reporters. If it is, it is illegal and NFL is in hot water. That is why the Redskins and the League came down as quickly and as strongly as they did.

(Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and I shouldn't have an opinion on this. Only learnedhand's pronouncements are legitimate on all things legal on RI.)

Posted by: beep-beep | September 21, 2010 1:20 PM |

...In any event, I and many thought the only impression that CP reinforced was that he's a clown and a football player who should under no circumstances be taken seriously. Just because someone jammed a mic in his face and was willing to give him an opportunity to say something stupid - which in all of my recollection is really all he ever does when he's quoted - doesn't mean to anyone that he speaks for the league or the majority of its players.....he just speaks.

This is almost no different than the 'Hunting is legal' comment. He wasn't affiliated with the dogfighting nor was he part and parcel to Ines Sainz being whistled at - he just offered up his really immature commentary. Nothing more, nothing less.

If this is your plan, then the Skins are doomed. Again, as I've said before, our defense is worthless without Haynesworth, I'm not the only one with this opinion, McNabb have said it, Anthony Bryant said it after the loss. At the least, Haynsworth commands being game planed for. If you were at the stadium, you will notice the sweat on Shanahan's face in the final moment of the fourth quarter and overtime, well that indicates nervousness, and without Haynesworth expect more of the same throughout the year, but I hope not, I can only hope coach Haslett will be bold enough to let Shanahan know that the defense needs Haynesworth.

Posted by: abxinc | September 21, 2010 1:21 PM |

Well we have essentially been without Haynesworth all year and for the majority of game 1 and the entirety of game 2.

So I guess you're saying that the defense, in it's current form, is worthless?

ZEKE’S UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES
once again, brought to you by the wonderful people at Yahoo!

In the season preview. I addressed a lot of things.

I covered our high risk, high reward defense. 5 different Texan receivers had receptions of 20 yards or more, even though we were hitting the QB a bunch. I said top QBs won’t be fazed by our ‘D’, while lesser QBs will struggle. Check & check.

I covered our run game. Didn’t expect much. Check.

I addressed the improvement we’d see in the passing game and from our OL (so far, better than I expected). And how vulnerable we are to an injury along the OL. Check & check.

I covered how the Texans fit into out playoff chances and why we have little room left for error against teams like Chi, Tenn, Jax and Det, but that’s check mark for another day.

I covered our new killer instinct, improved special teams and a QB who can win the game late. Check. Check. Check.

Killer Instinct. It has made only brief appearances in DC since the Gibbs 1.0 era ended. I’ve always seen Shanahan as a ‘go for the throat’ coach. It was personified in the infamous blown fumble call in the final minute of Denver’s 2008 opener vs San Diego. On the play after the blown call (which would have given SD the ball and the W), Shanahan went for the end zone and got the TD to pull within 1 point. Shanahan knew SD’s defense was struggling mentally and physically. He went for the 2 point conversation, got it and got the W.

Cutthroat. Go for the juggler. Pick a metaphor, it is who Mike Shanahan is.

In 2009, we led games versus 3 teams in the 4th quarter in ’09, with excellent chances at double digit leads (phi, Saints, dal). In each game, we got to the red zone and finished with less than we should have (1 FG made, 2 FGs missed). Each time, the defense gave up a TD on the next possession (2 TDs tied the game, the other left us behind by 1). In each game, our QB had a chance to win the game later on, but couldn’t get the drive together.

Now its 2010. In both games, teams converted on fourth and long in their final drive. In both games, potential INTs bounced off our defenders hands when a pick would have sealed the deal – twice in each game! And we missed short FGs that would have sealed the deal.

We were in position to close out both games – several times – on offense, defense and special teams. We didn’t. Both of our opponents got a shot at a W. One took advantage of it, the other came close.

Killer instinct, special teams performance and a QB who can win a game late? Not yet.

Clearly, there is more work to do.

And that is a wrap on this week’s ZEKE’S UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES, wishing all a happy Moon Festival (even if moon cakes are awful), brought to you by the best of the best at Yahoo!

Settle down now...there was way too much MSG in my lunch...I'm washing it down with koolaid as we speak. Skins roll this week...straighten out the offense defense and placekicking over the next few weeks...10-6.

If this is your plan, then the Skins are doomed. Again, as I've said before, our defense is worthless without Haynesworth, I'm not the only one with this opinion, McNabb have said it, Anthony Bryant said it after the loss. At the least, Haynsworth commands being game planed for. If you were at the stadium, you will notice the sweat on Shanahan's face in the final moment of the fourth quarter and overtime, well that indicates nervousness, and without Haynesworth expect more of the same throughout the year, but I hope not, I can only hope coach Haslett will be bold enough to let Shanahan know that the defense needs Haynesworth.

CP didn't say anything that was biased. I agree with his comments. Reporters should meet with players after they shower and are dressed, in a press room enviroment. Stop with the politically correct non-sense already.

Rules on who comments on legal nuances on a blog reserved for alleged legal professionals (notice I didn't say lawyer/attorney)? How do you know precisely who those folks are- because you don't.

I learned a long time ago that those that wear the lawyer/attorney moniker like a Seersucker suit in the lobby of any courthouse in the land, usually aren't worth the paper their JD was photocopied onto.

The one's who are confident enough in who they are and what they do (adjusting tie), couldn't give a sh*t about trying to define them self with every written/spoken word.

If he is traded by Wed deadline he only misses 4 total games. If traded after the deadline he misses 6 total. This is per the agreement worked out by NFL and NFLPA vis-a-vis Jackson's 3 game suspension for conduct plus the 3 game cooler the Chargers subjected him to by placing him on something called the roster exempt list. The 4 gamer is a compromise compared to the 6 gamer he was technically to serve. none of this has anything to do with the 10/19 league deadline for trades. If he is not moved by then he either plays in SD or sits the year.

So I'm on business unfortunately in El Paso. Before I return home I must find a refrigerator magnet for my wife whom collects such things from different places. I walk into one of the cheesiest novelty shops in the world that not only sells all things El Paso, but anything having to do with Texas.

I walk down the isle of the shop and find the magnet, a Chili pepper dressed like a cowboy, twirling a lasso, and wearing chaps, just like the hot sauce dude. I make my way back to the front of the line passing a plethora of Dallas Cowboys items. I drive heave and make my way to the cashier, and find the mother load! Behind the cashier was a pyramid made of Dallas Cowboys toilet tissue rolls. It looked like one of those old Charmin commercials.

For years, I've searched for this! I quickly plopped down the cash for the magnet and requested 8 rolls. The cashier's face illuminated with joy. She was in her mid to late 60's and she filled my bag with rolls with a huge grin on her face. Her accent was odd, it had a twang of Southern to it, but also so proper to the point it kind of sounded British at the same time. Her cadence as she spoke almost sounded as though she was singing, kind of a mix between Aunt Bea and Julia Child. As I approached the door, she let out a, "How 'bout dem Cowboys?" She might as well have scratched a chalk board. I stopped, slowly turned to her and forced a smile through my teeth and was out.

Poopy, I felt like a child at christmas. I immediately got in my car and grabbed one the of the rolls, just to make sure it was real. It was. I switched out the roll that was in my hotel bathroom and replaced it with one of the Cowboy rolls. I tried them out and quickly soiled half a roll. It was absolutely fantastic.

Sadly, I'm down to my last roll, but I haven't had this much fun going to the bathroom since I was a teenager ahem... There's nothing like waking up in the morning, going to the door and picking up the morning Wall Street Journal paired with a strong cup of coffee. 45 minutes later, I'm in the John singing, "Dallas, I'm gonna make your blue star brown!" Better than Crystal Gayle could.

Poopy McPoop and Redskin nation, I encourage all of you to purchase a roll or two of these Dallas Cowboy toilet tissues. The experience has been therapeutic. The applications and possibilities are endless. You've a got a runny nose, no problem, dislodged a louggie and need something to spit in or on, no problem, irritable bowel or lactose intolerant? Wipe away! I've even used them to change my daughter when she's dropped a douce in her diaper! There has to be a 1001 uses. Get yours today!

So why do media outlets say that any Vincent Jackson deal has to be completed by Wednesday at 4:00 pm?

Posted by: MrRedskin21

Its bit complicated ... but VJax has different suspensions if he gets traded.

The real challenge is this. No one will give up a high draft pick for a guy who'll only play 8-10 games, then be a free agent.

But VJax wants money beyond what he deserves (he's very good, but he's not Andre Johnson), so its hard to get a long term deal.

Meanwhile, SD will get VJax for the final 6 games in 2010 ... for under $1mil. VJax has to play those games in order for him to become a free agent in 2011. If he wants big $$, he'll need to play well.

SD has something to gain if VJax stays, a very good player, highly motivated, at a ridiculously low cost for the final 6 games (+ playoffs).

SD has something to gain via trade (player or more likely, a draft pick).

beep-squared, please don't misstate my position. You can voice your opinion on legal matters all you like. But when you make incorrect factual assertions couched as opinion about any subject, I will tell you that you're off base if I feel the need to. It's really that simple.

I understand beep, but you spun it a little. On CP's comments, don't be so politically correct. On reporters in the locker room, again I understand the agreement. That said, why is there the need to ask an athlete questions about a game he just played with Mr. Happy exposed to the world.

Average age of a team is a terrible statistic to judge anything on. Our best players, with the exception of McNabb, Moss, Cooley, and Fletcher, are under 27.

Posted by: Section104

You basically named every good player with the exceptin of Orakpo.

This is team is paper thin. All of the quality players are starters. There are no quality backups at any position other than TE. If a starter goes down it is devastating.

Here are the players that are going to need to be replaced in the next two years. Dockery, Rabach, Hicks, Maake, DE, Fletcher, Carter, Moss, #2 wr and a CB.

There is no one on the team that is young looks like they are going to be able to step into those roles. Compounding the problem is that the Redskins do not have a full complement of draft picks next year. Next year's free agent class should be decent so they may be able to fill a few holes but with cap it will become costly. They are going to have to commit big bucks to McNabb.

Over the next 3 years there will be steady turnover of the roster which will make it hard to be anything more than a fringe playoff team.

Monk811- last couple'a a years when I was supporting against a bunch of haters up here, that was ok?

Now that the shoe is on the other foot it not ok?

Why?

And f u 2 you hipocrit.

This team so far got extremely LUCKY and then choked horribly. Truth hurts.

I supported Rogers, McIntosh, Thomas, Kelly, Davis from day 1, not just portis cAmpbell and haynesworth.

So how does it feel

Posted by: pabrian2003 | September 21, 2010 1:51 PM | Report abuse

So what, you let a bunch of haters change you into a hater? Whatever, that's a copout, if that's true then you are just a jelly fish loser that can't form his own oppinion. And how am I a hypocrit? Last time I checked I don't sit here the whole time I'm on a Post and look to pick fights with someone just to hear myself type.
I 'feel' fine, you, my very lonely and troubled friend, need a reality check.

moe, you following the case of that Florida dad who, when kids were picking on his daughter who had cerebral palsy, on the bus, got on the bus, and threatened the bullies.....give that cat a Medal, and 10 minutes alone with those chicken shti kids....cost him 2000 in bail money...for doing the right thing...

moe, you following the case of that Florida dad who, when kids were picking on his daughter who had cerebral palsy, on the bus, got on the bus, and threatened the bullies.....give that cat a Medal, and 10 minutes alone with those chicken shti kids....cost him 2000 in bail money...for doing the right thing...

Posted by: BeantownGreg1 | September 21, 2010 2:19 PM | Report abuse

Sort of like the Houston teacher taht beat the S out of the kid that was making fun of the mentally disabled girl. She should have received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I bet that kid never picks on a handicapped girl again. He'll have to think about a woman beating his @ss and the whole world seeing it on Youtube.

The media is ruining football. F the mediA! Watching singletary have to field dumb questions after such a great hard fought loss was painful and nobody learned anything or got anything that would make aNy article any better.

beep-beep, let me get this straight. NFL players have wrapped towels around their waste for years and female reporters have NEVER once seen Mr. Happy ? NOT ONCE ? CP's comments are right in my opinion and the reporters are the morons stirring up trouble.

Haynesworth: Shanahan is playing this one right. Let him be inactive until we get at least a starter or a 2nd round pick. When other teams start getting banged up, they will offer more. (Though alot of teams are smart and want nothing to do with him) This stategy should force Haynesworthless to play to show people he can still play. ALot of teams do not think he is worth anything.

Running game: Need to draft in 1st or 2nd round next year. Larry Johnson made the dumbest play i've seen in quite a while in OT. Another play like that and he should be cut, and bring up Ryan Torrain.

What's with the criticism of the running game? 'Skins didn't put much effort into running on Sunday. I think Kyle Shanahan's ego and having to prove something to the Texans got in the way of establishing a power game. Had the 'Skins won, the question would never come up. As for Haynesworth, trade him and Reed Doughty to whoever gets the first draft pick next year, and pick Ingram from Alabama.

Who are all you dummies who say Haynesworth is so important to our D? The man has positively demonstrated that he has no desire to play football for our team, if any team at all. He got his big paycheck, now he's happy with that even if it means never playing another down. You guys can't judge character very well if you're thinking any differently. AH is a rotten apple, get whatever's possible for his tired hide and close the book on his sorry tenure in DC.

this team will not go 10-6 until they can run the football and play defense(meaning mix the 4-3 scheme in so that haynesworth can be a factor) with the 3-4, another point that must happen is get the player's with speed the ball,thomas,banks and austin I don't care what their size is they are capable of big plays. playing it safe with doughty and buchannon ain't getting it.

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